Losing It In Paradise

If you’ve spent much time in Phuket, then you have undoubtedly met Tom “DJ Tank” Saharut Somsanuk. King of the Phuket social scene, Tank describes himself as, “a mixed up nutcase, but a nice one. Born and raised in the US; discovering his Asian roots in Thailand.” At 38, Tank has decided to take control of both his weight and his life. He’ll be working with Phuket Fit over the next year to lose some pounds and rediscover his fitness. We’ll be checking in on him every few weeks, to see how his journey is going. Here’s what he has to say…

Hey Tank! How far into your training are you now?

A month and some change. Training five days a week.

How are things going?

Good! I miss some days here or there, but I’m mostly keeping up with it. I’ve lost thirty pounds (14KGs) so far and I can really feel a difference. I feel better around my heart and my other organs. I also feel more mobile. The biggest thing that’s changed is that my legs used to be black and calloused. I was afraid I was going to lose them because of my diabetes, but now they’re looking better. They look and feel more human. Smoother skin, they more life in them. Right now that’s what I’m most excited about.

Has the training gotten easier over the last month?

It’s actually harder because I can do a lot more. It’s harder because we up it and make it more difficult. Always improving on what we did the previous time. Using a heavier weight and doing more reps. Whenever my trainer asks if I can handle it, I tell her that I can. That’s what we’re here to do.

How is the food side of things going?

At the Phuket Fit Grill, they make it really easy. The food portions are gigantic, but it’s healthy food. I’m used to it from the States, but instead of the veggies and lean meats I have here, it would be biscuits and gravy with dessert back home.

Are you struggling with any food temptations?

I own a burger stand, so it’s been hard. Even the burgers are getting less tempting, though. One you start eating well, your cravings seem to change. Instead of a daily craving, it’s maybe a weekly craving.

Have you discovered that you love any healthy foods?

I really like yams. They’re really filling and super tasty.

Have you faced any other challenges or setbacks along the way?

Working all the time. You set yourself up to try and achieve 200 things, and then even if you achieve 90 of them, you’ve accomplished a lot. The big goal here has to been totally steer clear of everything. That’s not going to happen all the time, but I can at least avoid most bad things for most of the time. I’m not one of those guys who want to go to the gym just to train for fun. I’m a living kind of dude with bills and a family. I need to work to support them. I know I have to do this for me, though. If I hadn’t started to make a change, then I wouldn’t have been able to support them for much longer.

What’s your plan from here?

I’ll be training five ways a week and eating well. It’s all about moving forward and sticking with it. It’s great having a trainer to work with. If I had been able to do this on my own, I would have done it a long time ago. Working with Phuket Fit is finally helping me to achieve my goals.

If you’ve spent much time in Phuket, then you have undoubtedly met Tom “DJ Tank” Saharut Somsanuk. King of the Phuket social scene, Tank describes himself as, “a mixed up nutcase, but a nice one. Born and raised in the US; discovering his Asian roots in Thailand.” At 38, Tank has decided to take control of both his weight and his life. He’ll be working with Phuket Fit over the next year to lose some pounds and rediscover his fitness. We’ll be checking in on him every few weeks, to see how his journey is going. Here’s what he has to say…

Tell us about DJ Tank!

Everywhere else, I’m Tom. On this island, I’m DJ Tank. Wedding DJ, Club DJ, Radio DJ. I’m in people’s lives on the radio during the day, and then at night, I’m DJ at their functions. It seems like I’m constantly working. For weddings, you have to reserve me six-months in advance.

How did you first hear about Phuket Fit?

I found at about Phuket Fit through Will [Elliott, Phuket Fit’s GM]. I had met him somewhere on the island and he invited me to come to camp for a BBQ Beatdown. I had a great time.

Have you been doing much exercise before now?

The only exercise I ever got was on the job. Working as a DJ for six or seven hours is sweaty. It’s tough. But no other exercise besides that. Even that was getting harder and harder to handle.

What kind of food were you eating?

I lived on fast food. Anything that was deliverable. That’s the only thing I ever had time to eat. McDonalds was the main offender. My average order there would be a super-sized Big Mac combo with an extra double-cheeseburger on the side.

Do you feel like you finally have the motivation now to lose weight?

When I’ve tried to lose weight before, it required a level of energy that I just didn’t have. I’m working full-time, so I can’t be so tired after a workout that I’m unable to work. There has to be a balance between work and fitness, so that I’m not drained for my job. I’m working with Phuket Fit now to make that happen. So far, so good.

Have you set any goals for yourself to work toward while you’re training?

Training wise, I really want to get down to 150 KGs in six months or a year. My main goal is to be healthier and more comfortable in everyday life.

Are you looking forward to being able to perform any activities that you’ve previously missed out on because of your weight?

To be honest, just walking around with family. Doing normal things. Walking around a park with anyone. I just want to be able to enjoy it without getting exhausted. Short term, I want to get more energetic. During my first workout at Phuket Fit, even one lap would tire me out. Now, a week later, I can walk two laps while still talking.

Whats your starting weight?

I started last week at just over 200 KGs. After one week of training, Im now down to 196 KGs. Im already seeing big results!